BHUBANESWAR: After taking up the issue of election funding to ruling BJD with several Central Government agencies like Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate, the State BJP on Saturday sought the intervention of Governor SC Jamir into the poll expenditure case against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
A delegation of the BJP, led by State vice-president Sameer Mohanty, met the Governor and drew his attention to the alleged discrepancies in the poll expenses of the Chief Minister in 2014 election.
“We apprised the Governor about the discrepancies in the affidavits filed by Patnaik before the Election Commission as a candidate from Hinjili Assembly constituency and as BJD president,” Mohanty told reporters.
Alleging that the Chief Minister is misusing his official position, Mohanty said the former should defend his case by engaging private lawyer instead of taking the assistance of Government advocates.
Referring to the case filed against Patnaik in the Orissa High Court, Mohanty said it is a case against Patnaik as an MLA. He should defend himself by engaging private lawyers. He should not misuse public fund by utilising the service of the Advocate General and other State Government lawyers, the BJP leader added.
In a memorandum to the Governor, the BJP further alleged that the Ganjam Collector is being pressurised by the Chief Minister to work in his favour when the Collector is a party to the case as Election Officer of the district.
The BJP had moved the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on seeking a probe into alleged dubious poll funding by Patnaik.
Party general secretary Pruthiraj Harichandan, State secretaries Kalandi Samal and Lekhashree Samantsinghar, spokespersons Sajjan Sharma and Golak Mohapatra were part of the delegation.